Numbers 3:1-13

Complete Jewish Bible

3 (iv) These are the descendants of Aharon and Moshe as of the day when Adonai spoke with Moshe on Mount Sinai. ² The names of the sons of Aharon are: Nadav the firstborn, Avihu, El‘azar and Itamar. ³ These were the names of the sons of Aharon the cohen, whom he anointed and ordained as cohanim. ⁴ But Nadav and Avihu died in the presence of Adonai when they offered unauthorized fire before Adonai in the Sinai Desert, and they had no children; El‘azar and Itamar served as cohanim in the presence of Aharon their father.

⁵ Adonai said to Moshe, ⁶ “Summon the tribe of Levi, and assign them to Aharon the cohen, so that they can help him. ⁷ They are to carry out his duties and the duties of the whole community before the tent of meeting in performing the service of the tabernacle. ⁸ They are to be in charge of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting and to carry out all the duties of the people of Isra’el connected with the service of the tabernacle. ⁹ Assign the L’vi’im to Aharon and his sons; their one responsibility in regard to the people of Isra’el is to serve him. ¹⁰ You are to appoint Aharon and his sons to carry out the duties of cohanim; anyone else who involves himself is to be put to death.”

¹¹ Adonai said to Moshe, ¹² “I have taken the L’vi’im from among the people of Isra’el in lieu of every firstborn male that is first from the womb among the people of Isra’el; the L’vi’im are to be mine. ¹³ All the firstborn males belong to me, because on the day that I killed all the firstborn males in the land of Egypt, I separated for myself all the firstborn males in Isra’el, both human and animal. They are mine; I am Adonai.”